Brussels wants penalties for Poland over copyright laws
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
25.01.2018 15:22
Brussels has urged a top European Union court to sanction Poland over its failure to implement the European Union's copyright rules, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The European Commission's headquarters at the Berlaymont building, Brussels. Photo: Wikimedia commons/Sebastien Bertrand.
The Court of Justice of the European Union may decide to fine Poland EUR 87,000 (PLN 360,000) per day for its failure incorporate into its laws the bloc’s directive on copyright and related rights, and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use.
The directive was adopted nearly four years ago and member states had until April 2016 to transpose it into their own laws.
Brussels twice sent reminders to Warsaw but says it failed to get satisfactory responses.
The Polish government has said that work is underway to introduce new copyright laws which are in line with the European directive.
Poland can avoid sanctions if its laws are in line with EU rules by the time the court hands down its decision.
The commission has also decided to launch a case against Poland for what its claims is Warsaw's failure to follow the European Union’s defence procurement rules and awarding defence contracts directly to national suppliers.
“EU public procurement legislation helps improve the value of taxpayer money by requiring all public contracts above a certain threshold to be put out for tender respecting the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination,” the European Commission said in a statement.
Poland has been given two months to respond. (vb/pk)